128 FOR THE FLAG

hatches behind the foremast gave access. I could also
make out that something was grazing against the side of
the yacht, against the part of her hull that is above the
water. Could it be that there were boats alongside?
Were the men engaged in loading or unloading merchan-
dise?

And yet, it was not possible that we had reached our
destination. Count d’Artigas said the dda would be
“there” in twenty-four hours; and, I repeat, the night
before we were fifty or sixty miles from the nearest land,
the Bermudas. That we had turned back towards the
west and were now close to the American coast was
inadmissible, even allowing for the distance. Then I have
reason to believe the schooner had remained stationary all
night. . Before going to sleep I noted that she had just
stopped, and I remarked at this moment that she had not
moved again.

_ Was I to be permitted to go on deck? I did not think
it probable that I should be prevented from going out
when daylight came.

An hour passed. My cabin was now. lighted by the
morning sun. I looked out—a slight haze covered the
sea; but it was fast fading away under the first warmth of
day. ;

As my view extended for a range of half a mile, if the
‘three-master was not visible that would mean that she lay
on the port side of the £dda, where I could not see her.

Then I heard a grating sound, and the key turned in the
lock. I pushed the door open, I climbed up the iron